Culture

Scenes from the workshop of cosplayer Eric Jones, of CoregeekSometimes, when trying to replicate a villainous, power-hungry Asgardian’s wardrobe, you just have to punt. “I use a technique where I wrap the [human] subject with plastic wrap and tape—either duct or masking,” says Eric Jones, about making the form for the Loki costume (from The Avengers) for Comicon last year. “Then I’ll draw the shape of the armor on the taped area, then cut it off the subject to use as a pattern to be transferred to the main material like Worbla or foam.” Based in Mill Creek, Jones runs Coregeek, a one-man prop- and costume-building enterprise. Over the past four years, he’s taped, wrapped, cut, glued and meticulously handcrafted around 10 costumes and countless props (both on commission and for himself). A comics and movie fan and a woodworking hobbyist who has also dabbled in graphic design and works in law enforcement, Jones says he makes the costumes—which require upward of 200 hours spent in his workshop—for two main reasons: to enjoy cosplaying with his family and to bring smiles to the con’s attendees. “I love seeing my daughters get into the roles, and watching them interact with others at a con,” he says. “It’s truly a labor of love to make a couple hundred dollars in crafting supplies look like thousands of dollars in armor.” For ECCC this year, he’s making a Fierce Deity Link costume (from “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” Nintendo game) for his youngest daughter, complete with a 5-foot-long, double-helix bladed sword and body armor. His oldest daughter is going as Thranduil, King of the Elves from the Hobbit movies, adorned in an ornate robe and jewelry. And Jones and his wife will attend as gender-swapped versions of characters from Wreck-It Ralph: He will be a male version of Sgt. Calhoun, and his wife, Krista, will be Fix-It Felix (or, as they’ve dubbed her, Fix-It Felicia). He started making the costumes in December and anticipates they will take about three months to complete. And while costs vary per costume, last year Jones spent about $700 on Loki’s attire and props alone. But for Jones, cosplaying is worth the effort. “The challenge of re-creating a costume or prop is the most exciting for me,” he says. “It’s kind of like putting together a puzzle from scratch.” The King Loki costume, which cosplayer Eric Jones made for his oldest daughter, Katelyn, for last year’s ECCC, took more than 200 hours to construct over three monthsRead our full, behind-the-scenes coverage on the 13th annual Emerald City Comicon (March 27-29), including photos galore, here.

One of the many pleasures of beachcombing along the shores of Puget Sound is the immense variation in the colors of the stones—deep purple, jade green, burgundy, caramel, speckled or striped black and white. To wanderers, it looks like a beautiful carpet but to marine scientists the diversity tells an exciting story about the geological evolution of our region.

If you find yourself approaching the Washington State Convention Center later this month and Thor, Wonder Woman or Geordi La Forge hold the door open for you, just smile, nod a “thank you” and step right in like you belong. You’ve arrived at Emerald City Comicon (ECCC)—ground zero for Seattle’s superhero fandom.

Way to go, Bellingham: The city to our north has earned the title as one of the least obese cities in the U.S. after a recent Gallup survey found that "just 18.7 percent of Bellingham residents have a Body Mass Index of 30 or more." The low BMI brings Bellingham to the 5th best overall. The number one least obese city in the U.S.? Boulder, Colo.

Despite recent bike lane additions in sections through downtown and other areas of the city, bicycle collisions in Seattle are on the rise. King 5 News reports that "recent data reveals collisions increased by 34 in 2014.

In 2003, Seattle author Brent Hartinger published Geography Club, the first book in his young adult series that follows gay high school sophomore Russel Middlebrook and his quest to interact with other gay teens at his school. The novel earned praise from reviewers--USA Today called it an "honest, emotional and funny story," and The Seattle Times said it was a "breath of fresh air." In 2013, Geography Club was adapted into a feature film starring Scott Bakula and Ana Gasteyer.

For the last 25 years, Seattle performer Randy Minkler has been taking the stage in the guise of a clown named Godfrey Daniels, and even he agrees with the general consensus: “Clowns can be scary.” But Minkler has a strategy for getting beyond that hard truth. “I don’t think of him as a clown,” he says of Godfrey, “he’s more like an internally driven puppet.”

This article originally appeared on Avvo.On Feb. 24, 2015, Alaska became the third U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana and the first majority republican state to do so. Here’s what you need to know:

Essex's over-the-top-epic Sunday burger now available Wednesdays through Sundays: Delancey’s charming little sister may be the perfect place for a made-from-scratch cocktail and plate of pickles and pretzels before gorging on pizza next door, but Essex, in the east Ballard pocket neighborhood of Whittier Heights, has developed into a destination of beauty all its own. Owners Brandon Pettit and Molly Wizenberg continue to develop—and expand—the menu, which now includes a burger that you’ll want to show up for as soon as doors open at 4:30 p.m.; it’s that popular.

Must TourPompeii: The Exhibition at Pacific Science Center (Through 5/25, times vary) Travel back to the year 79 where the Mount Vesuvius eruption is re-created by way of hundreds of artifacts, body casts from the excavated dead and an immersive CGI experience that brings the eruption home (and imparts new ominousness to Mount Rainier).

Before some of Seattle's legendary bands, artists and icons were famous, they were frequenting local venues, high schools, cafes and neighborhoods; some speaking out, acting out, or otherwise causing a ruckus. These young people gained recognition as part of a forward-thinking and rebellious movement -- and yes, they had lots of hair. But behind the manes of Hendrix, Vedder, Cobain and the others so symbolic to our city, was an intention to change the system, put art on the streets, and generally leave things better, in myriad forms.

Last summer, Seattle Rep’s associate artistic director Braden Abraham became acting artistic director after the sudden death of predecessor Jerry Manning. Having already helmed many successful shows at The Rep (including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and My Name Is Rachel Corrie), this month Abraham directs his wife, actor Cheyenne Casebier, in the world premiere of a new play by Laura Schellhardt (The K of D).

Calling all Jiu-Jitsu and Kung-Fu fighters and fans alike: This week, full-contact combat is coming to the big screen in Seattle. Fists & Fury, Seattle's first Mixed Martial Arts Festival will debut at Cinerama on Friday, February 27 through Thursday, March 5.